Tassie hockey shines
9th April 2008
TASMANIAN hockey is making an unprecedented four-pronged assault on this year's Olympic Games.
The State has four representatives in the national colours and the inside word is that each is well placed to retain their guernseys when those squads are trimmed for the trip to Beijing.
"It's just fantastic," said Andrew McDonald, who doubles as both the Tasmanian Institute of Sport's hockey coach, national training centre head coach and also coach of the Tassie Tigers men's team.
"This is what we've been working towards and is a good sign of the success of both the TIS, Hockey Tasmania and all the regions contributing towards putting in place a really good development plan for young players who aspire to compete at an Olympic Games."
Along with rowing and cycling, hockey has traditionally been one of Tasmania's strongest Olympic sports with Penny Dunbabin, Maree Fish and Daniel Sproule among those to have already experienced playing at the ultimate level.
But 2008 could set a new benchmark.
While Devonport's Kim Walker continues to fly the flag in the Hockeyroos, a Tasmanian triumvirate dominates the Kookaburras squad with representation in defence, midfield and attack.
Veteran Matthew Wells is aiming to crown his distinguished career as a triple Olympian and fellow Hobart product Eddie Ockenden is earning rave reviews as the sport's developing excitement machine. Situated between them on the field is Burnie's David Guest, whose skill as a specialist penalty corner flicker gives him a major edge over his midfield rivals.
"All three are positioned quite strongly to make the Olympic team," said McDonald. "But the Olympics is the only major international tournament where each team can only have 16 players so it is that much harder to get into."
McDonald is well placed to oversee their progress both as their State coach and an assistant to Barry Dancer with the national team. He will travel with them to the Champions Trophy in Rotterdam at the end of June after which the final Olympic squad will be named.
"Matthew has a strong case to become a triple Olympian, having been unlucky not to be player of the tournament at the recent AHL competition, Eddie is one of the most exciting players in the world at the moment and David is positioning himself very well along the backline.
"He probably has the toughest task ahead but has the potential of being a penalty corner flicker. I watched them training in Perth last week and he was one of only two players being used as flickers."
Guest, a 26-year-old fitness fanatic who can also be a valuable playmaker, has shown more than enough resolve to make the cut. He narrowly missed out on the 2006 Commonwealths, where Wells and co. cantered to gold, and only made the Champions Trophy team by virtue of an injury to another player.
"He's had a lot of setbacks but is still leading the team in a lot of the fitness tests and getting a good return for that," McDonald said.
Having returned from major ankle surgery, Wells has announced he will end his glittering international career after the Olympics and would love to go out with yet another addition to his bulging trophy cabinet.
The 29-year-old carpenter has won two Champions Trophies, the Commonwealth Games, Junior World Cup and was part of the team which memorably shook off Australia's Olympic monkey by winning gold at Athens.
"He's tasted success in Athens and knows the quality of this team means it is a good chance to win another gold so he sees this as a good chance to end his international career on another high," McDonald said.
"It probably drives him to have fellow Tasmanians with him. He's a real leader and teaches a lot of the players around him. He has taught Eddie and David how to cope with the demands of the international game so I'm sure he will want to share this with them."
McDonald finds it difficult to hide his enthusiasm when he comments on the potential of the third Tasmanian hopeful.
Just a fortnight after Hobart judo exponent Stephanie Grant celebrated her 21st birthday by clinching her Olympic spot, Ockenden, whose birthday was on Thursday, retains the same dream.
"He has been termed the game's excitement machine. He has so much flair he can win a game on his own stick," McDonald declared.
"I don't want to put too much expectation on him but I would not rule him out as a serious contender for the best player in the world a few years down the track. I know that's a big call but he's a player of amazing ability and great potential. But at this point in time he is just focusing on making Beijing."
The Tasmanian trio helped their State to a third successive semi-final berth at the Australian Hockey League tournament in Canberra last month and are now part of a centralised programme in Perth, WA.
They are due to play a tournament against Korea and Malaysia in Darwin with the 18-strong Champions Trophy squad to be named imminently.
"We played really good hockey at the AHL tournament and I just thought this year we really needed to win it," said McDonald.
He said Walker, a 32-year-old horticulturist who moved to WA to further her hockey career, is also ticking all the right boxes after helping Australia to victory at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
"She is playing very well for the WA Diamonds in the AHL," he said. "She is regarded very well by national coach Frank Murray so is strongly positioned to make the Olympic team."
This article was in the Examiner Newspaper on Sunday 6th April 2008. All rights are with the paper and the author Rob Shaw.
Article by Hockey South
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